Lawyer: Conn. Teen Accused In Prom Day Slaying Of Classmate To Undergo Psych Evaluation

MILFORD, Conn.(CBSNewYork) -- The lawyer for the Connecticut teenager accused of fatally stabbing a fellow student said his client will be under psychological evaluation for the next two weeks.

Maren Sanchez, 16, was stabbed to death at Jonathan Law High School in Milford on Friday, just hours before her junior prom.

Friends told CBS 2's Janelle Burrell that the honors student was popular and well liked. They struggled to deal with allegations that her alleged killer struck because she turned down his request to go to the prom with him.

Instead of prom celebrations on Friday night, students held a vigil to honor their friend. In a moving tribute to the teen some friends donned their prom outfits and posed with Meran's boyfriend as he held her prom dress.

On Saturday, friends and peers were still trying to cope with the sudden loss.

"It's really hard to deal with her dying. I still don't believe it," Brittany Welkes said. "She was like my best friend and now she's gone."

While there are allegations the teen's motive was over a rebuffed prom invitation, authorities said they are still working to determine why Sanchez was killed.

"This is something that everybody wants to get to the bottom of and find out why it happened," Milford Police Chief Keith Mello said.

Sanchez's alleged attacker has been charged with murder as a juvenile, but could be charged as an adult after his arraignment in New Haven on Monday. His lawyer said the teen won't appear at his arraignment.

The suspect's name was not released because of juvenile offender laws.

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